A short walk from Holkham’s stunning big-sky beach is this light, bright and democratic café (part of the Holkham estate), which always has a ready supply of cakes, coffee and other light bites for the hundreds of visitors that walk or play on the vast sands and inland dunes year round. It’s hard to know which part of the family is welcomed the most warmly: kids can mix and match meal-deal bites (served in a free bucket that they can then use on the beach), as well as play board games or make use of the free wifi; dogs can enjoy a hose-down in the ‘wash and wag’ dog wash and a drink at the ‘bark up’ bar. In summer, the sun-trap terrace, lined with the pines that lead to the beach, beckons; in winter, the wood-burning stove is fired up indoors and hot chocolates are the order of the day.